Thursday, March 11, 2010

World of Skates CLOSED by City of Gary after shooting at Waka Flocka Flame concert, warm-up Act Hype Man blamed for shooting...

Waka Flocka Concert Ends With Shooting

Waka Flocka Flame has already had a month filled with violence as two incidents with his name attached made the headlines. First, members of his camp had an altercation with members of Young Jeezy's camp and the following day, eight young men were shot after his concert.

As we reported last week, the Jeezy and Gucci camps were in a scuffle that involved shots being fired at Walters Clothing Store in Atlanta, Georgia. This led to Flocka's bodyguard firing shots before police officers arrived on the scene. Flocka reportedly left the incident with a swollen eye.

The following evening, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that eight young men were shot after Waka Flocka's concert in Gary, Indiana. The young men, ages 14 to 18, were allegedly shot at the World of Skates' parking lot on March 5. The Post-Tribune reported that their injuries were not life threatening.

According to Commander Michael Mallett, this is all a result of an east vs. west battle.
"The kids have separated themselves into east and west sides," he told the newspaper. "They've been doing it for many years now, but it's gotten worse, especially when you have entertainers making references to east side vs. west side. The youth in our community have taken it to heart."
Waka Flocka Flame is no stranger to violence. He was the victim of a shooting in January that could have ended his life.
Murder suspect linked to skate rink shooting
A Gary teen has been charged with murder, robbery, attempted murder and other felonies for the Jan. 19 shooting death of Lloyd Holland, 22, outside the victim's Miller home.
Dontevious "Bubba" Hutcherson, 17, was arrested this week and is also being questioned in connection withthe shooting of nine teens outside World of Skates as a rap concert ended Friday night.
Police arrested Hutcherson and confiscated a weapon that may have been used in one of the shootings.
Holland and his cousin, William Johnson, 19, were at a home in the 800 block of Floyd Street. Holland was getting ready to perform at a rap party in Glen Park when Hutcherson asked Johnson for money to attend the show, but Johnson declined to give him the cash, the probable cause affidavit states.
"He opened fire on them with a silver and black colored handgun," the affidavit states. After both men were shot, Hutcherson took cash and jewelry from them and fled.
-- Post-Tribune staff reports

Warm up act blamed for Indiana World of Skates Wacka Flocka rap concert shooting

POLICE believe a shooting which left eight teens injured at a rap concert in Gary, Indiana, may have been incited by a "hype man" who wound up the crowd before the main act, it emerged overnight.

Bullets began flying after a fight broke out as a 200-strong crowd left the World of Skates venue after rapper Wacka Flocka's gig on Friday night, The Post-Tribune reported.

Police have not yet identified the gunman, or gunmen.

One victim said he was shot in the stomach by a black man holding a rifle. He said the man wore a red hat and had dreadlocks.

Police told the Post-Tribune a "hype man" entertaining the crowd before Wacka Flocka took the stage pitted "East Side" vs "West Side" against each other - and that may have sparked the violence.

"The kids have separated themselves into east and west sides," Michael Mallett said. "They've been doing it for many years now, but it's gotten worse, especially when you have entertainers making references to East Side versus West Side. The youth in our community have taken it to heart."

None of the wounded, aged between 14 and 18, suffered life-threatening injuries.

The venue was closed over the weekend while authorities investigate.

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Gary Building Commissioner Ben Robinson places a "Do Not Occupy" tag on the door of the World of Skates after an inspection Wednesday of the World of Skates and The Posh Lounge in Gary.

GARY -- City and state inspectors poured over every inch of Andre Ivey's bar and skating rink Wednesday morning looking for code violations at the scene where nine teens were shot as they left a rap concert Friday night.
After checking wiring, plumbing, storage areas, the kitchen and exits, inspectors decided World of Skates, 4415 W. 5th Ave., must close until a sprinkler system is installed. Posh, the bar adjacent to the rink, can remain open.
"You've got lots of items plugged into outlets and lots of paper all around them behind the bar. That's potential for a fire," Indiana fire and building code inspector Tom Stephens told Ivey.
Some of the problems should have sounded familiar to Ivey.
In the fall of 1997, after another rap concert that ended in violence, inspectors shut the facility for similar violations.
Ivey estimated 800 teens packed World of Skates on Friday to hear Wacka Flocka, a well-known rapper.
"He did three little songs. The crowd responded to him," he said. Everyone was well-behaved and there was no threat of violence, Ivey said.
"We had at least one adult for every 30 to 50 children," he said.
Outside in the parking lot, where the shooter opened fire on teens as they were leaving, seven sworn and auxiliary officers hired by Ivey provided security.
"We didn't get our money's worth," complained Michael Jones, one of Ivey's staff members.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old, Dontevious Hutcherson, who they say is being questioned in connection with the shooting. Hutcherson was charged Wednesday with the Jan. 19 shooting death of Lloyd Holland Jr., who was killed as he left his Miller home to perform as a rapper at a club in Glen Park. Holland's cousin was shot six times in the same incident. Police said Holland's cousin refused to give Hutcherson $5 to attend the show, so he shot them both then took money and jewelry from them.